Some American parents might think their children need better educations to compete with China and other countries. 
美国一些家长或许认为要同中国等国竞争他们的孩子需要接受更好的教育。

But how much do the parents themselves need to change?
但他们自己又需要做出多少改变呢？。

A new book called "Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother" by Amy Chua has caused a debate about cultural differences in parenting. 
蔡美儿（Amy Chua）写的一本新书《虎妈战歌》引发了一场为人父母文化差异上的争论。

Ms. Chua is a professor at the Yale Law School in New Haven, Connecticut, and the mother of two daughters. 
蔡女士是康涅狄格州纽黑文耶鲁大学法学院的一位教授，她有两个女儿。

She was raised in the American Midwest by immigrant Chinese parents.
她在美国中西部长大，父母是中国移民。

In the Chinese culture, the tiger represents strength and power. 
虎在中国文化中是力量和权力的象征。

In her book, Ms. Chua writes about how she demanded excellence from her daughters. 
蔡女士在她的书中描写了自己如何要求女儿们出类拔萃。

For example, she threatened to burn her daughter's stuffed animals unless she played a piece of music perfectly. 
例如，她曾威胁如果她的女儿不能出色地演奏一首曲子的话，就要烧掉她的填充玩具动物。

She would insult her daughters if they failed to meet her expectations.
如果她的女儿没能达成她的期望，她还会辱骂她们。

Ms. Chua told NBC television that she had a clear list of what her daughters, Sophia and Louisa, were not permitted to do.
蔡女士在接受NBC电视台的采访时说，对她的女儿索菲亚和路易莎不允许做的事情，她有一个明确的清单。

"Attend a sleepover, have a play date, watch TV or play computer games, be in a school play, get any grade less than an A."
不许在外过夜、不许参加玩伴聚会、不许看电视或打电脑游戏、不许参演校园剧、考试得分不许低于A。

Many people have criticized Amy Chua. 
许多人批评了蔡美儿。

Some say her parenting methods were abusive. 
一些人称这是虐待型教育方式。

She even admits that her husband, who is not Chinese, sometimes objected to her parenting style. 
蔡女士甚至承认，她的非华裔丈夫有时也会反对她的教子之道。

But she says that was the way her parents raised her and her three sisters.
但她说，她的父母就是这么培养她和她的3个姐妹的。

Ms. Chua makes fun of her own extreme style of parenting. 
蔡女士也对其极端的家庭教育方式进行了自嘲。

She says she eased some of the pressure after her younger daughter rebelled and shouted "I hate my life! 
她减轻了部分压力，在她小女儿做出反抗并叫道，我讨厌我的生活！

I hate you!"
我恨你！

Ms. Chua says she decided to retreat when it seemed like there was a risk that she might lose her daughter. 
蔡女士说，当出现了她可能会失去女儿的风险时，她决定让步。

But she also says American parents often have low expectations of their children's abilities.
但她还表示，美国父母常对其子女的能力期望过低。

"One of the biggest differences I see between Western and Chinese parents is that Chinese parents assume strength rather than fragility."
我觉得中美两国父母之间最大的一个区别就是中国父母认为孩子是坚强而非脆弱的。

Stacy DeBroff has written four books on parenting.
斯泰西·德布罗夫写过四本关于如何为人父母的书。

"I think the stirring of this intense debate has to do with what does it mean to be a successful parent and what does it mean to be a successful child?"
这场激烈争论的焦点在于，成功的父母指的是什么？成功的儿童指的又是什么？”。

Ms. DeBroff says Amy Chua's parenting style is not limited to Chinese families. 
德布罗夫表示，蔡美儿的教子之道并不局限于中国家庭。

She says it represents a traditional way of parenting among immigrants seeking a better future for their children.
而是代表了那些为子女谋求美好未来的移民父母的传统教育方式。

But she also sees a risk. 
但德布罗夫也看到了风险。

When children have no time to be social or to follow their own interests, they might not develop other skills that they need to succeed in life. 
当儿童没有时间进行社交或发展自己的兴趣爱好时，他们恐怕无法培养其它人生成功所需的技能。

Stacey DeBroff advises parents to develop their own style of parenting and not just repeat the way they were raised.
因此斯泰西·德布罗夫建议家长们发展自己的教子之道，而不是仅仅复制他们父母的方法。